Scaffold clamp



W. ELEMES I May 25 SCAFFOLD CLAMP Filed Oct. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 25 1926. 1,585,838 v w. ELEMES SCAFFOLD CLAMP v Filed oct. 5. 1925 2 ShetS-Sheet 2 v Patented May 25, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ELEMES, OF ELYRIA, OHIO.

SCAFFOLD CLAMP;

Application filed October 3, 1925.

This invention relates to scaffold clamps and has relation more particularly to a device of this kind especially designed and adapted for use in connection with ladder scaffolds, and itis an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved means whereby the scaffold plank or platform is effectively supported when a ladder rung breaks.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a clamp of this kind normally supported by a rung of a ladder above the rung upon which the plank or platform rests and wherein means is provided operating by the weight of the plank or platform and the load thereon to effectively grip the ladder to provide support for the plank or platform in the event of breakage of the rung upon which said plank or platform is rested.

The invention consists in the details of construction and'in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved scai'fold clamp whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is an elevational view illustrating scaffold clamps constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on. the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary View in elevation illllStl'EttlDg one of my improved clamps as herein disclosed;

Figure 4 is a view in edge elevation of the structure as illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken sub stantially on the line 66 of Figure 3;

Serial No. 60,309.

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 77 of Figure 3.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, the ladder L is of a conventional type employed in connection with ladder scaffolds as used by painters, carpenters and other artisans who are required to work above the ground and wherein the rungs 1 are employed to directly support a plank or kindred platform. 7

One of my improved clamps is employed with each of the side. rails 2 of a ladder L and, as herein disclosed, the clamp comprises an elongated member 3 preferably of a length slightly in excess of the distance between the outermost of three adjacent rungs 1 and the opposite end portions of said member 3 are provided with the outstanding arms 4, the lowermost arm eXtending below the lower of said three rungs and the uppermost arm extending below the upper of said rungs. The lowermost rung 1 has rested thereon from above, in a well known manner, an end portion of the plank P or kindred platform. The arms 4 are each of such length that when an extension to the ladder is employed, each of said arms 4: will properly underlie a rung of the ladder and of the extension. By having the'npper and lower arms 4, the device is also effective when a ladder jack is employed of a type whereby said jack is supported by both of the rungs 1 under which the arms 4 are arranged.

The member 3 comprises two elongated spaced strips a between the end portions of which the arms 4: are disposed and secured thereto thereby maintaining said strips a in desired assembled relation. Extending between the upper portions of the strips a of the member 3 below the upper arm 4 is a plate 5 the outer end of which being provided with the laterally disposed flange or lip 6 for contact with the adjacent edge of a strip a whereby endwise movement of said plate in one direction is substantially eliminated. The opposite or inner end portion of this plate has pivotally connected thereto by the rivet 7 or kindred pivot member an extremity of a swinging actuating plate 8, said pivoted portion of the plate 8 and the adjacent portion of the plate 5 have interposed. therebetween a spacing block 9 through which said rivet or pivot member is also directed. This spacer block 9 maintains the actuating plate 8 beyond the outer strip a of the member 3 so that said actuating plate will not be hindered or obstructed in its movement by such member.

The plate 5 is freely slidable between the strips (4 of the member 3 and also has pivotally engaged therewith by the rivet 7 or the like the elongated plate or arm 10, said arm being positioned inwardly of the plate 5 and extends downwardly from the rivet or pivot member 7.

A second plate 5 similar to the plate 5 extends between the strips a of the member 3 at a desired point below the plate and pivotally secured to its inner portion is a depending elongated plate or arm 10, Pivotally attached, as at 11, to the lower portions of these elongated plates or arms 10 and 10 are the opposite end portions of a toggle member T the upper arms 12 of said toggle member extending beyond their pivotal connection 11 and terminate in the outwardly disposed lips or flanges i l adapt ed to be disposed across the front and rear edges of the side rail 2 of the ladder L and constitute jaws adapted to have effective gripping or clamping action upon said side rail when the clamping device is in action,

The actuating plate 8 has secured thereto, as at 15, an arm 16 of a length to extend between the strips a of the member 3 and having its outer end provided with alaterally disposed lip or flange 17 adapted for contact with the adjacent edge of a strip a to limit the swinging movement of the plate 8 in one direction. The swinging movement of the plate 8 in the opposite direction, as herein disclosed, is limited by contact of said strip a of the member 3 with the spacer block 18 interposed between the plate 8 and the arm 16.

Pivotally held by the lower pivot 11 of the toggle member is a depending lever 19 having swinging movement between the strios u of the member 3, the inner marginal portion of said lever being provided at its lower portion with the longitudinally spaced recesses or notches 20 adapted to selectively receive a cross pin 21 supported by and bridging the space between the lower portions of the strips a of the member 3 for a purpose to be hereinafter fully explained. The lower end portion of the lever 19 has operatively engaged therewith a handle member 22 whereby the desired manipulation is materially facilitated.

The swinging actuating plate 8 is graduah 1y increased, as herein disclosed, in width toward its lower or free end and said free menses end portionis provided With the notches or recesses 23 to selectively receive from above the central of the three rungs 1 as will be described.

In practice, a clamp is employed, as hereinbefore stated, in connection with each of the side rails of a ladder L and in applying the clamp the lower arm a is placed below the rung 1 upon which the plank or kindred plat-form P rests and the upper arm -l is positioned beneath the second rung above that upon which the plank is engaged. The actuating plate 8 is then swung in position over the rung above the rung on which the plank rests and said plate is permitted to slide down until it rests upon such rung and the jaws 14 expand to opposite sides of the side rail of the ladder. After the clamp has thus been positioned it is permitted to settle down until it adjusts itself to the width of the side rail of the ladder whereupon the lever 19 is pushed inwardly to engage the cross pin 21 within the recess or notch 23 which happens to substantially coincide with such cross pin, depending upon the width of the side rail of the ladder.

In the event the rung 1 upon which the plank or platform rests should break, the weight of such plank or platform along with its lead will be thrown upon the lower arm 1- transferring the weight through the actuating plate 8 upon the rung immediately thereabove, forcing said plate 8 upwardly which in turn results in the aws 1% moving one toward the other and effectively gripping the side rail 2 of the ladder and thus permitting the device to effectively support the plank or platform. The greater the weight upon the plank or platform the harder the jaws 14 will grip.

In practice, the relation of the various parts is such that the clamp becomes eii'ective upon substantially a one-quarter inch drop of the platform or plank,

The notches or recesses 23 provide for an effective functioning of said plate 8 in con nection with side rails 2 of different widths and the lever 19 provides further means of adjustment to widths of side rails of the ladder and when the lever 19 is engaged with the cross pin 21 it serves to hold the javs 14 tightly against the side rail so that said jaws are ready to grip immediately upon breaking of the rung, By having the member T directly engaged with the pivotally supported elongated plates or arms 10 and 10, said toggle member is permitted to swing either way with relation to the member 3 in order to more exactly adjust the device to the side rail of a ladder and especially in the event the rungs are off center.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that scaffold clamp constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason Ill of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and t will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In combination with a ladder and a platform resting on a rung thereof, toggle means operating under the influence of the load on the platform and coacting with a second rung of the ladder to grip the ladder to provide support for the platform in the event of breakage of the rung on which the platform is rested.

2. In combination with a ladder and a platform resting on a rung thereof, means coacting with a second rung and directly with the side rails of the ladder to hold the platform against displacement upon breakage of the first mentioned rung.

3. In combination with a ladder and a platform resting on a rung thereof, means coacting with a second rung and the side rails of the ladder to hold the platform against displacement upon breakage of the first mentioned rung, said means comprising a mechanism for automatically clamping the side rails upon such breakage of the first mentioned rung.

4. In combination with a ladder and a platform resting on a rung thereof, a clamp comprising an elongated member extending along the ladder, an outstanding arm carried by said member underlying the rung upon which the platform is rested, a second outstanding arm carried by the member and underlying a second rung above the first named rung, a plate slidably engaged with the member, a swinging plate engaged with said first named plate and having contact with a third rung of the ladder intermediate the two first named rungs, and relatively movable jaws operatively engaged with the member and the plate between which a side rail of the ladder is positioned, said jaws moving into gripping action upon said side rail under the influence of the weight of the platform upon breakage of the rung upon which said platform is rested.

5. In combination with a ladder and a platform resting on a rung thereof, a clamp comprising an elongated member extending along the ladder, an outstanding arm carried by said member underlying the rung upon which the platform is rested, a second outstanding arm carried by the member and underlying a second rung above the first named rung, a plate slidably engaged with the member, a swinging plate engaged with said first named plate and having contact with a third rung of the ladder intermediate the two first named rungs, relatively movable jaws operatively engaged with the member and the plate between which a side rail of the ladder is positioned, said jaws moving into gripping action upon said side rail under the influence of the weight of the platform upon breakage of the rung upon which said platform is rested, and means for limiting the movement of the swinging plate.

6. In combination with a ladder and a platform resting on a rung thereof, a clamp comprising an elongated member extending along the ladder, an outstanding arm carried by said member underlying the rung upon which the platform is rested, a second outstanding arm carried by the member and underlying a second rung above the first named rung, plates slidably engaged with the member at spaced points thereon, arms pivotally engaged with said plates, a toggle operatively engaged with the arms, the members at an end of the toggle being extended to provide jaws between which a side rail of the ladder is arranged, an actuating plate operatively engaged with one of the first named plates and adapted to have contact from above with a third rung of the ladder, said actuating plate coacting with said third rung upon breakage of the first named rung to cause the jaws of the toggle to grip the side rail of the ladder.

7. In combination with a ladder and a platform resting on a rung thereof, a clamp comprising an elongated member extending along the ladder, an outstanding arm carried by said member underlying the rung upon which the platform is rested, a second outstanding arm carried by the member and underlying a second rung above the first named rung, plates slidably engaged with the member at spaced points thereon, arms pivotally engaged with said plates, a toggle operatively engaged with the arms, the members at an end of the toggle being extended to provide jaws between which a side rail of the ladder is arranged, an actuating plate operatively engaged with one of the first named plates and adapted to have contact from above with a third rung of the ladder, said actuating plate coacting with said third rung upon breakage of the first named rung to cause the jaws of the toggle to grip the side rail of the ladder, and means coacting with one of said sliding plates and the member to hold said plate against movement.

8. In combination with a ladder and a platform resting on a rung thereof, relatively movable jaws operating under the influence of the load on the platform and coacting with a second rung to grip the ladder to provide support for the platform in the event of breakage of the rung on Which the said clamping mechanism to grip the ladder platform is rested. to provide a support for the platform in 10 9. In combination with a ladder and a the event of breakage of the rung on which platform resting on a rung thereof, a nor the platform is rested.

mally inactive clamping mechanism ini- In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my tially supported by a second rung of the signature.

ladder, and means operating under the influence of the load on the platform to cause \VILLIAM ELEMES. 

